The Gibraltar Port Authority (GPA) recently sent three members of its staff to attend a training course for Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Supervisors held at South Tyneside College in Newcastle where they undertook two weeks of study in management, emergency procedures and effective supervision in the VTS operations room.

They were also able to train on a VTS simulator where they were taught how to supervise vessel traffic management and emergency situations, and spent 2 days taking part in leadership and team building exercises in Comb, Kielder Forest.

The Gibraltar Port Authority’s Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary and is in the process of being upgraded to the latest sate of the art technology in order to ensure that the Port of Gibraltar continues to provide the safest and most efficient vessel traffic management.

Commodore Bob Sanguinetti commented that ‘as well as upgrading its hardware, the GPA recognises that investment in technology must be coupled with investment in it human resources’.

The Minister for Maritime Affairs, the Hon Gilbert Licudi QC stated that ‘this investment in training once again shows the Government’s commitment to ensuring that safety of navigation is given the highest priority, and I am also pleased to note that continuation training forms a fundamental part of the Port’s professional development programme.'